'Hidden' charges on the rise in US hotels

Travellers to the US are increasingly being stung by unavoidable "resort charges", adding up to £35 a night to the cost of a hotel stay.

While European firms - particularly airlines - have become the subject of scrutiny from regulators over "hidden" fees, they are on the rise at US hotels. Competitive room rates are used to lure in holidaymakers, before visitors discover that internet access and the use of leisure facilities are not included. But guests are not given the choice of opting out of the charges by declining to use the additional services.

The practice was adopted by a number of Las Vegas hotels following the global recession of 2009, but it has now spread to other popular holiday destinations, including Florida and Puerto Rico.

The Clarion Inn & Suites at International Drive, Orlando, for example, imposes a $3.50 (£2) daily fee, while at the St Regis Bahia Beach Resort in Puerto Rico the levy is a hefty $60 (£35) a night.

The issue has led to complaints to the Federal Trade Commission, a US consumer protection group, while Kevin Mitchell, chairman of the Business Travel Coalition, described the charges as “inherently deceptive”.

In Las Vegas, guests at more than a dozen hotels are now being hit with the compulsory charges, in addition to the cost of their room.

Caesar’s Palace charges $25 (£14.72), which pays for internet access on one device, use of the hotel gym, and local calls. The Downtown Grand imposes a more modest $11 fee (£6.50), which covers the internet, free local and toll free calls, morning coffee and bottled water.

At the Cosmopolitan, a newcomer on the Las Vegas strip, the daily fee is $25 plus tax, taking the total to $28, or £16.50. The compulsory fee includes the use of the internet, phone calls within the US, as well as use of the gym and swimming pool. It was introduced in 2012, the hotel says, in response to “extensive feedback” from its guests.

Sara Benson, Telegraph Travel's Las Vegas expert, said resort charges started appearing during the recession, but, despite the financial crisis easing, hotels have kept the charges which enable them to boost revenue while appearing to offer rooms at competitive rates.

A spokesman for the Las Vegas convention and Visitors Authority said the fees were a way of "offering value" to customers. He added that unlike other major holiday destinations Las Vegas offered free parking to tourists.